Tummy tuck vs. diet and exercise, which works best?

It's one of the most common debates when it comes to plastic surgery: Can diet and exercise mimic the results of a tummy tuck procedure? The answer is not simple, some experts say. While eating healthy and exercising more can help some people, others might benefit from adding a tummy tuck to the mix, reports NBC affiliate KVOA.

When it comes to diet and exercise, there are certain people who can experience impressive results. Specifically, those who benefit typically have all the muscles below their stomach intact, and if their skin has enough elasticity, there's a good chance they can see impressive results from eating better and working out.

Unfortunately, that's not the case for everyone. Diet and exercise can't target loose skin caused by pregnancy, weight loss or age, and that's where a tummy tuck procedure comes in. However after the recovery, a change in lifestyle can help.

"Diet and exercise resulting in additional weight loss is also beneficial after a tummy tuck," an Arizona-based plastic surgeon told the news channel. "The additional weight loss can really enhance the results."

Along with being a good fit for the surgery, adhering to the proper recovery practices will ensure tummy tucks work as well as possible. Most surgeons recommend taking around two weeks off of work and limiting strenuous activity to help speed up the recovery time.

For the right candidate, tummy tucks have the ability to provide exceptional results, so it's no surprise they have become one of the more popular procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were more than 115,900 tummy tucks performed in 2011.